novelNo Umbrella
| ← Ch.384 | Ch.386 → |
Translator: Reflet
Editor: ryunakama
The rain that had begun falling during the afternoon was still drizzling after school.
Taiyou's classmates had all begun to leave the school, as did his brides, who said they had errands. This left him and Kohaku in the classroom, wearing their school uniforms.
Taiyou was silently working on raising his level with monotonous tasks, while Kohaku was gazing out the window.
"So you're okay, Kohaku-san?"
"Hm?"
"You don't have anything to do?"
"Nay, we elders generally have free time, ja."
"I do hear that every so often."
"Because that be true. It isn't like I'll have much to do when I get back, so I figured it be more fun to be with ye, Danna-sama."
"Shall we go somewhere then?"
Taiyou suggested. He figured they might as well have a date while they were at it.
"I only have one umbrella, ja."
"Right."
"It doesn't sound too bad to share an umbrella, but with the difference in our heights, I doubt it would go well, ja."
"Oh, right."
Taiyou could see how that might be difficult. There was quite a difference in height between the Eternal Little and himself. Without a really good handle on things, one of them-in this case, Kohaku-would end up getting wet.
Understanding that, Taiyou jokingly said,
"Or we could just huddle more closely together. Or give you a piggyback."
"How about koala style, ja? Or kangaroo."
"Kangaroo sounds good. Plus it's been super cold lately. Getting all snug would make us warmer."
"Aye. Winter be the season to have fun."
"Such as?"
"Food. We can go to an oden shop that I frequent, ja."
"Was it under the tracks?"
"Indeed."
Kohaku grinned.
"The shop owner wears men's underwear and a breast protector, ja."
"What about a towel twisted into a headband?"
"Of course. All the standard equipment, ja."
"Excellent. That person sure gets it."
"I'd recommend that place any day, ja."
"I'm looking forward to it. Let's go together next time."
"Ye good at holding yer drink, Danna-sama?"
"I'm underage, you realize."
Taiyou made a slight grimace.
Kohaku looked like an elementary schooler but was attending high school.
In actuality, she was over 80 years old and it made perfect sense to see her with a sake cup, but in Taiyou's case, he was most certainly a high schooler and underage.
"Oh yeah huh, ye don't drink much, do ye...Or heck, I never even seen ye drink."
"I'm sure you haven't. Cause I don't. I've already been in a tough situation once because of the sacred stuff."
"Oho, now I really want to make ye drink some."
"Like I said, I'm underage..."
"But if I recall, ye could drink at around 14 or 16 in Princess Leticia's country. Plus over there, even if ye be a Japanese citizen, the Japanese law don't apply to ye."
"You really want to get me drinking, eh."
"Well once ye come of age, I would like ta engage in drinking with ye."
"What are you, my dad?"
Taiyou grimaced again.
He then recomposed himself.
"But I do want to go to that restaurant. I can't drink, but I do want to go with you. In winter if possible."
"In winter?"
"It'll be a date. A date under the frigid sky, pressing our bodies close together at a food stand."
"Ohhh, that sounds fantastic."
Kohaku's eyes sparkled.
"How about we throw in a red hand-towel, soap, and chattering teeth?"
"Or a hand-made muffler, the longer the better. That way we can put it on together."
"—-mm! Amazing as always, Danna-sama. Always coming up with plans that arouse me heart. How about I make one tonight?"
"Oh, hand-made. I look forward to it."
The two of them continued their chat in the classroom.
If a poor bachelor heard this wholesome exchange, they would probably cry tears of blood.
"Hm?"
Taiyou suddenly realized something: everything had become unbelievably quiet.
No sound, no nothing.
It was as if every voice besides theirs had disappeared.
He soon understood why.
"Snow..."
"Hm? Oh. It be true. Snow be everywhere."
The two of them stared out the window in awe. The drizzling rain had become snow in the blink of an eye, falling down heavily. The wet ground had been painted over with a coating of white, muffling all sound.
The world of silver had quickly shifted. It stole their eyes, stole their hearts.
"It's beautiful, ja."
"That it is. The first snow of the year."
"Aye."
"Although it'd be nice if it were Christmas right now."
"..."
Taiyou and Kohaku's eyes glittered as they gazed outside.
"Kohaku-san, let's go home."
"Huh?"
Kohaku looked at Taiyou, puzzled.
"Let's walk home through the snow together."
"...Aye!"
They picked up their belongings and dashed out of the classroom.
As they walked through the hallway, Kohaku drew close to him and linked her arms around his, unable to wait any longer. He could feel her cheery nature through her clothing, and Taiyou found himself catching that cheer himself.
"So, the umbrella?"
"We shall go without it, ja."
As Kohaku requested, they leapt into the snow without an umbrella.
The two of them huddled together in the snow as they walked home.
It was in fact a fun, blissful moment, but...
They had to deal with all the scolding and jealousy from the other brides.
| ← Ch. 384 | Ch. 386 → |